Funeral for West End junior killed in crash held Wednesday

Services for former student set for Friday

Published: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 2:27 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 11:53 a.m.

Students at West End High School were allowed to check out Wednesday with a note to attend the funeral of one of their classmates killed in a wreck Saturday night.

Kayla Ann Baldwin, 16, was riding with a friend, Kamron Sanford, 18, when they wrecked on Blount County Road 39, the same road known as Murphree Valley Road in Etowah County, West End Principal Craig Shoemaker said. They apparently were on their way home from a rodeo in Oneonta when the wreck happened. They collided with another vehicle driven by James Light, 18. He was flown to UAB Hospital.

He said Kayla, a junior, will be remembered as a country girl and for being a big Alabama fan.

Kamron is a former West End student and many of the students also knew him. He worked at Pinnacle Inc.

Shoemaker said the counselors at West End were assisted by the counselor from Sardis High, and a local minister and several students talked to them.

Kayla’s classmates were given the opportunity to write their favorite memory on paper, and a poem was posted at different locations around the school. Students also made a banner and signed it.

All these things will be given to her family, along with some money collected by the Student Government Association.

Shoemaker said the classmates wanted to do something for the families and collected the money. It will be split, with half going to Kayla’s family and the rest to Kamron’s family.

He said they allowed students to check out with a note, which is normal protocol. He said a student typically cannot check out with a note and must have a parent or authorized person’s signature.

Shoemaker said an exception was made for Kayla’s funeral, which was held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at The Chapel of Snead.

Funeral services for Kamron will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Morgan Funeral Home Chapel.

<p>Students at West End High School were allowed to check out Wednesday with a note to attend the funeral of one of their classmates killed in a wreck Saturday night.</p><p>Kayla Ann Baldwin, 16, was riding with a friend, Kamron Sanford, 18, when they wrecked on Blount County Road 39, the same road known as Murphree Valley Road in Etowah County, West End Principal Craig Shoemaker said. They apparently were on their way home from a rodeo in Oneonta when the wreck happened. They collided with another vehicle driven by James Light, 18. He was flown to UAB Hospital.</p><p>He said Kayla, a junior, will be remembered as a country girl and for being a big Alabama fan.</p><p>Kamron is a former West End student and many of the students also knew him. He worked at Pinnacle Inc.</p><p>Shoemaker said the counselors at West End were assisted by the counselor from Sardis High, and a local minister and several students talked to them.</p><p>Kayla's classmates were given the opportunity to write their favorite memory on paper, and a poem was posted at different locations around the school. Students also made a banner and signed it.</p><p>All these things will be given to her family, along with some money collected by the Student Government Association.</p><p>Shoemaker said the classmates wanted to do something for the families and collected the money. It will be split, with half going to Kayla's family and the rest to Kamron's family.</p><p>He said they allowed students to check out with a note, which is normal protocol. He said a student typically cannot check out with a note and must have a parent or authorized person's signature.</p><p>Shoemaker said an exception was made for Kayla's funeral, which was held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at The Chapel of Snead.</p><p>Funeral services for Kamron will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Morgan Funeral Home Chapel.</p>